Our review

Although it may be hard to believe, it is possible to get a low–interest credit card, loaded with platinum benefits and issued by a prestigious financial giant, for a relatively low annual fee. It’s called the Citi Clear Platinum Credit Card and it can be yours provided you can demonstrate a moderate annual income of at least $35,000 per year.

Low ongoing purchase rate

There is good news for anyone whose income fluctuates, and who might sometimes struggle to repay their purchase balance in full at the end of the month. The ongoing purchase interest rate is 14.99% p.a., a low interest rate for a credit card. If you expect that there may be occasions when you are running an unpaid purchase balance of, say $5,000, the difference between 14.99% p.a., and a more normal rate of around 20% p.a., would reduce your monthly interest bill by $20.

There are competing cards available with an even lower interest rate – the ME frank Credit Card for example, with an ongoing purchase rate of 11.99% p.a. – but they do not normally come with the Citi card’s platinum benefits.

Standard cash advance interest rate

There’s nothing special, however, about the cash advance interest rate of 21.74% p.a. Use the cash advance facility sparingly, if you must.

Up to 55 days on purchases every month

This isn’t a card which cuts corners, so it comes with a full complement of Up to 55 days on purchases, not the meagre 44 days of some other cards. Since purchases do not have to be paid for until the end of the monthly billing cycle, transactions made on the first day of the cycle do not have to be cleared from your account for 30 days, and do not attract any interest in that time. The card issuer then adds a grace period of either 14 or 25 days (25 days in this case) before the monthly payment is due.

Those extra 11 days of credit each month add up to 132 extra days each year, worth about $43 if your average monthly balance is $3,000 and you leave the cash in a 4% p.a. mortgage offset account.

Useful complimentary insurance cover

Although this is a platinum card, Citi obviously do not consider the annual fee to be high enough to encompass a ‘free’ multi-trip overseas travel insurance policy for a family, which many platinum cards include. But four other types of insurance cover come automatically with the card:

Extended warranty insurance: Doubles the manufacturer’s warranty (up to a maximum of 12 extra months) for personal items bought with the card.

Transit accident insurance: Use your card to pay your fare on a plane, train, bus or ferry, and receive a cash compensation for specific injuries or loss of life resulting from an accident while travelling on them. E.g. loss of sight of one eye, $250,000.

Purchase cover: Personal items you buy with the card are covered against loss, theft or accidental damage for 90 days, with claim limits of $200,000 per year, or $10,000 per claim for jewellery, watches and fine arts.

Guaranteed pricing scheme: If an item you bought with the card (in a physical store, not online) goes on sale later, at a lower price, in a local printed catalogue, Citi will reimburse the price difference (minimum $75, maximum $500). Claims must be made within 60 days of purchase.

Free wine with Citibank dining program

As long as you are prepared to dine at restaurants on Citibank’s extensive list, you need never pay for wine with your meal again. There are currently over 300 participating establishments, mostly located in Sydney and Melbourne, but the other state capitals and regional areas do have some coverage.

When you arrive, mention that you are a Citibank cardholder, and order a minimum of one main course per person, or spend at least $50 on food for a sharing menu such as pizza or tapas. Then select your bottle of wine from the Citi list, with an average value said to be around $35. Pay with your Citi card and your bottle of wine is free, and if you used it only six times a year you’d be ahead by $210.

Visa Platinum / Visa Premium

In addition to the exclusive Citibank dining privileges, cardholders also qualify for the Visa Platinum program. It provides a personal concierge service (by phone or online) as well as giving access to special offers and preferential booking for concerts and other entertainment events, plus travel and accommodation deals.

The cost – less than you might expect

It’s a bundle of privileges that’s a little out of the ordinary: no rewards points, no international travel insurance, but lots of advantages in the form of other insurance, Visa Platinum privileges and free wine. For this you will pay an annual fee of $99 p.a.. You can have up to four supplementary cardholders (they must be over 16 years of age) for no extra cost. Given the benefits, it’s a reasonable deal.

An unusual card for the extraordinary cardholder

Clearly, this Citi card is not a run-of-the-mill card for a standard platinum cardholder who may be looking for rewards points and international travel insurance. Instead, it appears to be aimed at the local spender, someone who can more than justify the moderate annual fee in return for free wine and complimentary insurance cover directed at domestic rather than international travellers and shoppers.

User reviews

3.3 out of 5.0 based on 16 reviews69% of reviewers would recommend this card

Rates and fees

Rewards

Customer service

Convenience

Trust

Reviews from users

Late fees are a joke

Reviewed and not recommended by James on 21 Sep 2016

This card looked okay when I got it, but when I was late making a payment once, they had the cheek to charge me the late fee several days in a row. Not just once, but yes several times for the one late payment. What a rip-off and a joke! The sooner the government does a royal commission into the banks’ and building societies’ (etc) charges and late fees, the better. They will find corrupt happenings, I’m sure.

Okay card

Reviewed and recommended by Kristine on 07 Aug 2013

Rates could be lower & the rewards could be better too. But over all it’s not a bad card.

Monthly fees are high

Reviewed and not recommended by Tony on 13 Aug 2015

Although paying over $200 P/FN, monthly fees come to just over $100 so am always struggling to get ahead on repayments. Although now on a disability pension, I got the card when I was on good wages, but maxed out the card when I got divorced. Now am just making repayments, not using card.

Citi delivers

Reviewed and recommended by Anon on 31 Mar 2014

Always ready, always accepted. Citibank contacts you have if any unusual transactions. Platinum concierge always ready to oblige with all your requests such as booking events tickets, rewards vouchers and points plus pay articles especially airline tickets. Security is very good. I never seem to have any problems using the card at home or abroad. And overseas purchases are converted into Australian dollars for easy reckoning.

Citibank are OK

Reviewed and recommended by Overseas problems on 02 Sep 2013

The only problems that I have had with Citibank Platinum was the procedure to replace a lost card overseas. The long distance calls kept falling out (not Citibank’s fault) but the procedure meant that each subsequent call had to start again from scratch. The card was replaced but the long distance phone calls were astronomic. Not be able to receive PIN overseas was also a problem.

High fees and penalties

Reviewed and not recommended by Tony on 26 Sep 2016

Citibank Clear Platinum Card is a convenient way to purchase items, but you can get caught up by the fee structure if not careful. Cash advance fees are very high. The purchase fees are reasonable but on the higher end of the scale. If the monthly fee is missed, phone calls and letters arrive to advise you, and they want to know when it is going to be paid, and how much. If the agreed time arrives and the amount has not been paid, a daily fee is charged until such time as the amount is paid, plus there is a $40 late fee.

Now they are charging a one-off 1.5% interest on the money you transfer from another bank to Citibank Visa Card, a charge that has only been introduced in the last six months. I would not recommend any of Citibank cards to family and friends.

Was good at the start then they hit you

Reviewed and recommended by Anno on 13 Sep 2013

It was great at the start low interest rates of 2%, now 12 months on, the have gone extremely high and cost us a fortune. I just want it cleared now. But they do have good rewards system and good service. Just bad fees ad charges when you are paying full interest.

It's a great card, I love it

Reviewed and recommended by Anon on 11 May 2015

It’s a great card if you travel a lot. It’s good for business, it has easy approval and the customer service is great. I would recommend this to anyone who is is never home and is on business a lot.

Out of all banks it’s the best card of all.

Easy to use, great rewards

Reviewed and recommended by Nadine on 23 Sep 2016

I was reluctant to sign up to a card but I am very happy with this product and would recommend it to anyone considering an easy-to-use, value-for-money card.

I enjoy the rewards offered as well — wine is always a great perk.

It’s not too expensive fee-wise either. Enjoy your shopping!

All fees are too high

Reviewed and not recommended by Tony on 20 Sep 2016

The Citibank Clear Platinum Visa Card has high interest rates.

If you miss a payment by the due date you get harassment calls and daily fees until monthly instalments are paid. Citibank customer service staff are not willing to assist you if in a dire situation and you have to pay the monthly payment.

On top of all the fees and charges there is also a fee for account-keeping, and now i see Citibank’s latest television ad saying that if you transfer money from another card to a new Citibank card there is a “one-off” fee of 1.5%. They get you no matter what you do.

Show 6 more reviews

Best of all time

Reviewed and recommended by Yvonne Dent on 10 Oct 2013

When I was looking for a credit card with a good interest rate I came across this one where it was 4.9% for the life of the balance transfer great savings on interest. This card has great rewards like free wine at certain restaurants that accept the card.

I wish I never got this card

Reviewed and not recommended by Tony on 08 Jun 2016

I got the card whilst earning good money, but had to change when I lost my job. After re-entering the workforce on lower wages I had to beg and plead to change to a lower interest rate card. Even with the lower interest fee, monthly total fees outstripped half my payment. I had difficulty speaking to customer service because their English is hard to understand. Credit Card Compare showed me that by changing to a new credit card I could take advantage of huge savings and also paying cheaper purchase/ cash out fee.

Rewards and online transactions

Reviewed and recommended by Ankit on 02 Feb 2016

Rewards are interesting and online transactions are smooth. Also quite useful on international travel. I personally benefited from the rewards program a lot. The dining offers are a great way to use points too. Good interest rates and fees. Customer service can be better, i.e. administering your account at a bank branch.

Benefits, low interest, no frills

Reviewed and recommended by Timothy on 04 Jul 2016

The Citi Clear Platinum card has a lower rate of interest than many other cards, but it is not connected to any 'free’ rewards program.

You get the benefits of being a Platinum member with a free bottle of wine at some restaurants, free concierge service, and free travel insurance when booking international flights via the card. The annual fee is still $95, but the security is amazing as it is backed by a well known international bank.

Easy credit

Reviewed and recommended by dodgy23 on 26 Aug 2013

This card was very easy to apply for online. It is accepted everywhere. I have had no problems with it. It is easy to keep check on my account online and pay with bpay. They send payment reminders by email so it is nearly impossible to miss a payment, great bank to deal with.

Convenient and offers some rewards

Reviewed and recommended by Anon on 02 Aug 2013

The card is convenient and offers some rewards. However, their dining rewards are at limited locations and I haven’t had a chance to use any. Advantage is a free overseas travel insurance. Major draw back is a poor customer service from overseas and high annual fee attached to the package with which the card was offered.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed about credit cards are the reviewer's alone, and do not reflect the views of Credit Card Compare or the credit card issuer. Reviews have not been approved or otherwise endorsed by Credit Card Compare.

Minimum criteria for this card

What you need before applying

You have your personal details ready to complete the online application

Have not applied for multiple credit cards recently

Joint applications are not allowed

Temporary residents are eligible

Age Pension,
Disability Pension and
Widower's Pension
are acceptable.

Carer's Allowance and
Child Support Payments
are acceptable.

Disclaimer: The minimum criteria pointers are intended only to be a guide. Your application may still be rejected by the bank even if you can answer 'Yes' to all the minimum criteria. The final decision regarding your application is up to the bank.